Cabinet Committee Equalities and Employee Relations

The Cabinet Committee Equalities and Employee Relations is due to consider five reports at its meeting on 2 September 2026: the Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2025/26, Learning and Development, Health and Wellbeing, Workforce Data for Quarter 1, and Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence. No minutes have been published, so no decisions are recorded yet. Each report recommends that the committee approve or note its contents.

Some sentences of this summary are missing in English, because an older automatic check removed them from the English only. The Welsh version has them.

1. Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2025/26

   Proposed

   The report recommends that the committee approve the Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2025/26, note the actions taken on three complaints received in the year, and note that the report will be published as the law requires.

   Why

   The Welsh Language Standards require the council to publish an annual report by 30 June each year. It covers 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. The report says the council is not under challenge for any standard. A Consultation, Engagement and Welsh Language Officer was appointed in December 2025. The council received three complaints: a social media post in English only, Welsh language impacts in a transport consultation, and Welsh language service from a debt recovery contractor. The report says all three were addressed and no formal enforcement action was taken by the Welsh Language Commissioner.

   Based on the minutes, Welsh language standards annual report 2025-2026 (002), Welsh Language Standards Cover Report 2025-2026

2. Learning and Development

   Proposed

   The report recommends that the committee note the information on apprenticeships, graduate schemes, workshops, e-learning and HR briefings.

   Why

   The report is an annual update on the council's grow your own schemes and staff training in 2025/26. Since 2013 the council has appointed 186 apprentices, and 35 apprenticeships were in place during the year. The council has had eight graduate posts since its in-house scheme began in 2021. Eight workshops were held for 42 delegates. The report lists completion rates for mandatory e-learning, from 41.55% for climate change to 87.61% for safeguarding. HR briefings were attended by 339 delegates. The council uses the Apprenticeship Levy, a UK-wide tax on large employers, to fund apprenticeship training.

   Based on the minutes, 01 - CCEER Report - Learning Development v2

3. Health and Wellbeing

   Proposed

   The report recommends that the committee note the information on health and wellbeing support for staff.

   Why

   The report gives an overview of health and wellbeing support for staff from April 2025 to March 2026. It says 90 employees used the counselling service for the first time, down from 110 the year before. Occupational health referrals rose to 436 from 355. The council carried out 526 health surveillance checks. The report lists support on offer, including the Employee Assistance Programme, a bi-monthly newsletter and a Health and Wellbeing Group. A wellbeing event for employees is planned for November 2026.

   Based on the minutes, 02 - CCEER Report - Health and Wellbeing v2

4. Workforce Data for Quarter 1

   Proposed

   The report recommends that the committee note the workforce information for Quarter 1.

   Why

   The data is as at 30 June 2026. The headcount is 5,942, up from 5,921 a year earlier. The workforce is 79% female and 21% male. The average age is 46. Days lost to sickness per full-time equivalent employee rose to 3.55 from 3.08 a year earlier. Musculoskeletal disorders make up 15.71% of days lost. The report says the council is looking to introduce Benenden Health, a monthly-fee health scheme for staff and their families, as an alternative to private health insurance.

   Based on the minutes, 03 - CCEER Report - Workforce Q1 v3

5. Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence

   Why

   The report gives an annual update on the in-house Assia Domestic Abuse Service and on domestic abuse services run by third sector partners. Total referrals rose to 4,465 in 2025/26 from 3,632 the year before, and repeat victims rose to 1,211 from 471. The report says the service has a significant gap in specialist provision for young people experiencing intimate partner abuse. It also says the service is having a positive impact.

   Based on the minutes, VAWDASV report 2026 v3, Appendix 1 - Assia delivery plan 25-26

Written by AI from the reports on the agenda, before the minutes are published. Reports say what council officers recommend; the meeting can decide differently. Once the minutes are out, this becomes a summary of what was decided.

1. 1

   Apologies for Absence

2. 2

   Declarations of Interest

3. 3

   Approval of Minutes

   Papers: Minutes , 03/06/2026 Cabinet Committee Equalities and Employee Relations
4. 4

   Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2025/26

   Papers: Welsh language standards annual report 2025-2026 (002), Welsh Language Standards Cover Report 2025-2026
5. 5

   Learning & Development

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: 01 - CCEER Report - Learning Development v2
6. 6

   Health & Wellbeing

   Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

   Papers: 02 - CCEER Report - Health and Wellbeing v2
7. 7

   Workforce Data - Quarter 1

   Papers: 03 - CCEER Report - Workforce Q1 v3
8. 8

   Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence

   Papers: VAWDASV report 2026 v3, Appendix 1 - Assia delivery plan 25-26
9. 9

   Urgent Items

Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.

Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.

• Melanie Jayne Evans, ChairpersonLabourPresent
• Alan Wathan, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• Alex Ulberini-Williams, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Anthony Berrow, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• Colin Davies, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Della Hughes, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Elaine Winstanley, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Eugene Caparros, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Freya Bletsoe, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Gary Haines, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Hywel Williams, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Jane Gebbie, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Johanna Llewellyn-Hopkins, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• John Spanswick, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Martyn Jones, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Maxine Lewis, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Paula Ford, Committee MemberLabourAbsent
• Rhys Goode, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies

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